In Defense of Those Who Defend Us

Re “Honor Troops’ Sacrifice and Vote,” Steve Lopez column, Oct. 31: Why do we educators struggle to obtain and put books in the hands of all our students, just so that, later on, their government can put a rifle in their hands and teach them to kill?

The first name on Lopez’s list, Marine Cpl. Roberto Abad, was my student at Bell Gardens High School. In Roberto’s honor and sacrifice, I will vote for John Kerry to be our next president. Hopefully, Kerry will bring our troops home and not permit any more young Americans to die in a useless war.

Raul Martinez

La Habra

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Mr. Lopez, neither you nor I know what the fallen soldiers identified in your column were told. But I am confident that they understood, better than you, that they were defending the very freedoms of this country that you exercise so freely, every day. I would be more convinced that you care a wit had you saved your article until after the election!

Maj. Gen. Richard Steere

USAF retired, Fallbrook

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Lopez points out the familiarity of the towns and cities of our fallen soldiers in his Oct. 31 column. This is a telling list, as it speaks to us of the sacrifice of those who gave their lives on our country’s behalf. The list also speaks to us, by omission, of the disparity in this war, as in all wars. As I studied the names and towns, I became aware that some areas of the state were conspicuous by their absence. Where were the fallen soldiers from Pacific Palisades and Bel-Air; from Hillsborough and La Jolla. Do we send no troops from Beverly Hills? Is the land of the free protected by those with the least to lose, or the most?

Ed LaDou

Winnetka

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Lopez’s parting shot in Sunday’s column goes over the line. My son-in-law has served with the Marines in the first wave of invasion in Iraq, was wounded and saw not only friends die but innocent civilians. His comment, “They lost their lives on a mission to bring self-determination to Iraq, or so they were told,” is a slap in the face to these fallen soldiers, but an even a bigger slap in the face to their grieving families. Mr. Lopez, you are a coward.

Charles S. Klein

Ventura

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Regarding the estimated 100,000 Iraqi casualties in the U.S.-led conflict (Oct. 29), I have a message for President Bush: You can’t liberate dead people.

Deirdre Gibson Seaman

Tustin